Let's assume that your employee breaks his leg. Doctors tell your employee that he won't walk normally for seven months. Without surgery, bed rest, pain medication, and physical therapy, he "likely" won't be able to walk for more than a year after the accident.

In a recent case, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that because "disability" has a broad definition, temporary disabilities may be covered if they are severe. As a result, employers should not immediately dismiss an employee's temporary disability, because it may require a reasonable accommodation.